TheRailwire
General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: CBQ Fan on July 03, 2014, 08:35:11 PM
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Shock and disbelief on my part! :facepalm: Production is not ready. Code for bumped for HO or some British product if you ask me. I like the FL9 but 2015 is more likely 2020. If they had some CN coaches you could actually buy to go with the GMD-1 I might actually buy both, but I have no need for one and multiple years wait for the other. :(
It is good to see some companies slowing down their new product offerings to actually match their real production.
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I ordered all the LIRR set of Bradley's . I hope the price locked in , or maybe reduced because of pain and suffering due to the extended wait . Hmmm 600 bucks could buy a coffin a half a foot high or so .
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It won't be 2020 ... and I have no problem waiting for the FL9 and the PBLWs. Gives me more time to get the layout ready. And when they get here, they will be exquisite.
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It won't be 2020 ... and I have no problem waiting for the FL9 and the PBLWs. Gives me more time to get the layout ready. And when they get here, they will be exquisite.
I will bet you one section of Atlas sectional straight track that it is closer to 2020 than 2015! :D.
I am still waiting on the sleepers and cafe cars. That has been how long......they don't even say which passenger cars are delayed.
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You're on! :cool:
I would think that Mike will give you an update if you ask him.
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Simple update...........
We have two factories........ N scale cars are awaiting final tooling changes that I (that would be me) require......... Nothing else but that; I (and our team, including the ultimate judge, Jason) am not completely happy with the tooling. The factory that has developed them and will make them is bogged down with all sorts of projects and tooling changes are not a priority...... I can't run over and "convince them" they are a priority.... It's just that simple.....
Jason will be there in early August - that will "convince them" to move our small N scale project to the front of the line.............. it's a balancing act between many clients......
So; it's not the UK project (different factory), it's not our HO projects (they are not yet tooling) - it's just capacity.... or, would you have us just "let em rip... with errors....? Please, I want an answer. I wonder why an N scaler (and I am one) would choose to assume they are geting jobbed by HO or UK or other projects.... really... why ? Please give me your evidence or is it all subjection ?
On a more generic note - many N scalers often publically complain they are getting "screwed" by (fill in the blanks - UK projects, HO projects, etc....) priorities........ most of the time it just isn't true........ China's factories are businesses...... they don't care about scale, they care about dollars.....
Delays happen... there are lots of reasons; most of which are simply capacity. There is no great conspiracy against N scale; although if you were to read my work email you might think that is the case; N scalers seem to be somewhat "conspiracy based".... it's time some of us got over that and realized this is a business.... we are in this to make money by making the best models possible.... any scale........... We want to make your model... we really do.
Just so you know............
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I will bet you one section of Atlas sectional straight track that it is closer to 2020 than 2015! :D.
I am still waiting on the sleepers and cafe cars. That has been how long......they don't even say which passenger cars are delayed.
You will be sending the track to 500 Alden Road, Unit 16, Markham, Ontario... Get it wrapped. :D
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Are these the sleeper & cafe cars or the Bradley cars?
The painfully slow race between Rapido and Centralia to complete a full NP train is excruciating.
I think the feeling comes from seeing a steady monthly flow of HO releases and a menopausal flow of N. You see what I did there? :-X
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The delays are on the Panarama cars; the cafe-bar-lounge and the 10-5 which are 90% ready to go to production. We need a final "tweek" and then they can go to production.
Let's get something clear.... we are NOT trying to "complete your NP train" (because if we were we being trying to complete MY NP train as well...) .... never said we were making an NP train consist.... we make individual car types, we research them, we offer them, we get them as right as we can and then we make them.... if we don't make them as fast as you want then I can only say we're sorry. We "do what we do".... but we stand behind the cars when we sell them.
You obviously don't accept my explaination for the delays.. ok; well; I can't help that. The facts are what they are. Maybe you should look elsewhere if speed to market is your primary concern but I think you'll find many compnay's have similar issues right now.
By the way; our HO LRC is 7 years behind schedule........ you might want to consider that before you suggest an HO bias............ :facepalm:
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Just for the record I am capping out at one section of atlas code 80 track to bbusey and one to puddington. All additional betting closed! :D. I think I actually only have 2-3 pieces.
I had an early correspondence with Jason on the first run of n scale saying that every HO passenger car offered would be done in N Scale. I get that his reply was a little too aggressive, and I never said you or anyone owed me a complete train, but you have all the artwork to have offered a very nice NP stand in! And all the NP, GN, and CB&Q produced in N that you have done in HO I would purchase.
So if production goes as planned are we talking Q4 2014 or Q1 2015?
My expectation as a customer is a reasonable, somewhat predictable production schedule. If a company is going to expect preorders and produce to that amount with a minimal overage than product arrival should be more reliable.
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I don't mind the delays... I'll just keep running my imaginary FL9 on my imaginary C55 flex track.
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It won't be 2020 ... and I have no problem waiting for the FL9 and the PBLWs.
This is a bad thing, waiting to have your wallet drained to near starvation? That is what will happen to a number of modelers once these things hit our shores (the last time I checked we shared the west coast with Canada). Better enjoy your pizza while you can because once these models come it will be a bit harder for some to pop once again, at least for a while. More time... to save your money. Some pizzas are expensive too.
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Already have the money put aside for the PBLWs. Now, I'll start saving for the FL9s. Already emailed in my reservation for two NH and one CR. But, those two Amtrak units are tempting ... :facepalm:
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I for one appreciate when Rapido and like-minded manufacturers provide open and transparent updates on hiccups with bringing models to market - it's certainly better than leaving customers in the dark (and getting a reputation as purveyors of fine vaporware)
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Hey Puddington.......
Since there is a delay.................
Why not add another car.
I would burst out with sobs of joy if you would just do this car.....
(http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C10006%5CDSC00336.JPG)
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Conrail version (CR 11) first. ;)
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If we add those cars I'll lose my bet with CBQ cause it will be 2020!!!! :lol:
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Just for the record I am capping out at one section of atlas code 80 track to bbusey and one to puddington. All additional betting closed! :D. I think I actually only have 2-3 pieces.
So if production goes as planned are we talking Q4 2014 or Q1 2015?
My expectation as a customer is a reasonable, somewhat predictable production schedule. If a company is going to expect preorders and produce to that amount with a minimal overage than product arrival should be more reliable.
Right now the schedule for the 10-5's and Cafe Bar Lounges is totally dependant on the tooling changes. production isn't an issue - if we get the tooling changes when Jason goes over in August then the end of the year is possible, if not then Q1 2015 is more likely.
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I think I face a grave danger of bankruptcy if the MT diner and baggage car, Rapido 10-5, M&R 6-1-4, and a Kato San Francisco Chief (just speculation, but they have most of it already between the Super Chief and El Cap sets), and Atlas code 55 flextrack all hit the shores at the same time.
That said, I have approximately 110 passenger cars that are in some state that varies between a collection of loose parts and waiting for a final clear coat over the decals. So there is plenty to do while waiting for slow boats from China.
And I would rather have an accurate model next year than another backwards diner with coach seats (as continues to be manufactured by another company that will remain unnamed, that was in a hurry 30 years ago).
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I appreciate the confirmation. :)
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Hi guys,
Here is the basic summary.
Our N scale versions of HO models we've already made are being produced at the same factory that produced the HO versions. We think this is (in general) a smart policy because that factory has the experience designing the HO models and reduces the risk of detail errors cropping up in the N scale version.
The problem is that this factory has slowed down to a crawl in terms of new tooling. At the factory that does MLW projects, we get a first sample in two months and all tooling corrections finished within the next four. So the N GMD-1 tooling is basically finished and just waiting for production time. It went from nothing to finished model in about nine months. The extra few months was because we were busy on a different project, not because they couldn't finish it.
But at the factory making the Cafe-Bar-Lounge, 10-5 Sleeper and Osgood Bradleys, it's another story. We've been waiting for a year for the final corrections on the former and we have not yet seen the first samples of the latter despite the factory receiving the final go-ahead about six months ago.
I honestly have no idea why this is happening. It may be that they are putting other clients first, or that their tooling shop is so busy doing day-to-day mould repair work that they don't have time to do the new tooling. It is most likely a combination of the two. They do a lot of work for Chinese clients and they often get priority.
If we were to move the projects out of that factory, it could hurt our relationship with them for all of the other things they are currently making for us. And then we'd have production delays on most things and not just new N scale tooling.
So we're walking a very fine line.
I'll be at the factory in the first week of August and I hope to have this solved to some degree while I am there.
Best regards,
Jason